Anyplace But Here (Oklahoma Lovers Series Book 5) (23 page)

Next came her corset and petticoats until only her bloomers, stockings, and camisole remained. Hunter stood and made quick work of his clothing until it was in a pile next to the bed.

“Ah, sweetheart, you’re so beautiful.” He removed the pins from her hair, and the silky strands floated around her in a cascade of blonde waves.

“How can you say that? I’m a mess from crying.”

“No, honey. You’re never a mess in my eyes.” He reached for the edge of her camisole. “Let’s get the rest of these clothes off.”

She gave him a shy smile as he divested her of the few remaining garments. He leaned over her, bracing himself on one elbow. Slowly, his palm moved over her body, squeezing her breasts, circling her navel with his index finger, before making his way down to the warm moistness at her center. “Ah, you’re ready for me. I love how you respond to my touch.”

“And I love the way you touch me.” Her fingernails raked softly down his chest, tangling in the hairs there, until her small hand reached for his swollen member. He sucked in a breath between his teeth as she encircled him, her thumb rubbing over the small drop of liquid at the tip.

“You’re so soft, and so strong all at the same time.” She gripped him harder and squeezed. “Does that hurt?”

He closed his eyes, his jaw clenched. “No, baby. That doesn’t hurt. It feels great.”

“Then why are you holding your breath?”

He blew out the air from his lungs. “Because as much as I love your touch, if you keep that up, I will explode in your hand.”

She grinned and continued to stroke him. “How does this feel?”

“Baby, you’re killing me,” he groaned.

She pulled her hand away, and he grabbed it, returning it to his cock. “But don’t stop.”

Fisting her hair in his hands, he took her mouth in a searing kiss, rubbing his body against her as she continued to caress him. Her scent of flowers, lemon, and just-Emily was pushing him over the edge. Their tongues tangled, then he drew back and kissed the skin under her ear, her jaw, and back to her lips.

He shifted until he again felt her warmth, her moisture coating his fingers. “I want to hear you scream. I want my name on your lips over and over again.”

Emily whimpered when he encircled her pearl as it stiffened and rose from her center.

“That’s it, honey. I want you to come for me.”

Her breathing increased, her beautiful breasts rising and falling as she thrashed her legs, twisting, pushing her center up against his hand. She opened her eyes, the lids heavy as she strained toward him. “Help me.”

Hunter leaned down and took her breast into his mouth, laving the nipple until it puckered. He bit gently on the nub and suckled hard. With a loud moan, she cupped his neck with both hands and pulled him close. She made those little mewling sounds he loved as she gave in to the pleasure his ministrations had brought her.

Giving one final shudder, she relaxed, her arms sliding from his shoulders.

With both hands he spread her legs wide, and settled in the warmth of her center. In one swift movement, he entered her, groaning as the warm slickness gripped him. “Baby, I’m not going to last. I need you so much.” He braced himself on his elbows over her, as he slid in and out.

“That feels so good,” she whispered, as her breathing picked up to match his. The sounds and scents of lovemaking filled the room, blocking from Hunter’s mind all the fear and ugliness of the day. Right now he was in heaven, and fully intended to keep his place there, with Emily right by his side.

He threw his head back and stiffened as he poured himself into her.

She was his.

And would always be his.

Chapter 23

The following Monday, Emily stood behind the closed door of her hotel room and waited for Jesse and Hunter to leave for court. About five minutes after she’d heard the last of their footsteps, she stepped out and hurried down the stairs. Despite Hunter’s insistence that she not help with the investigation, she simply had to do something.

The three of them had enjoyed a restful Saturday that Jesse had declared as a day off. Then Sunday they returned to work, going over notes and interviews. Today was the end of the prosecution’s case, which meant tomorrow Jesse had to start presenting Hunter’s defense.

He had reluctantly admitted to both of them yesterday that he was short a great deal of information. Despite putting in lengthy hours after court to piece together what Jeremy had done, he’d said it still wasn’t enough.

Earlier, she had lain in bed thinking about Hunter, and how different making love with him had been compared to Louis. Of course, nothing Louis had ever done in the bedroom could be called making love. With Hunter, she’d felt cared for and wanted. Not like she was a possession to be degraded and abused, and treated like an animal.

With the way things stood right now, her life was on the line as much as Hunter’s. Without him, there would always remain a gaping hole in her heart. If she wanted to have the full life she’d always dreamed of, she had to act, and not sit and wait upon others. Hadn’t she yet learned her lesson about depending on someone else?

Despite Hunter’s stern warning, she would search Smith and Sanders’ office. She’d hopped from the bed and made a list of names Louis had ordered her to unearth gossip about. His favorite way to control people.

That list could easily lead them to the person who had murdered Louis.

At the last court session, Mr. Sanders had testified about the business he and Louis had been involved in. Since to date no charges had been filed against the partnership, Jesse had been unable to question him about any criminal activities. Why no charges had been brought was frustrating. Just another example of the police refusing to believe such ‘upstanding’ citizens could do any wrong. Sanders would likely escape before they could gather enough evidence to stop him.

Idiots.

As she descended the stairs, she once again checked her pocket for the key to the office that she’d found in Louis’s desk drawer in the library. That had been the only worthwhile thing she’d recovered before she’d been escorted from her home. She’d turned it over to Jeremy, but Hunter and Jesse hadn’t known Jeremy gave it back to her when they were both staying at the boardinghouse.

A good thing, too, since it would have burned up in the fire with him. With her list of the names of those Louis had her spying on, she would search the office for their financial records. She had no doubt someone on their client list had lost enough money to kill Louis.

The morning air was cool and crisp. While Galveston rarely got actually cold in the winter, this day was one that reminded her winter had indeed arrived. As she rode the trolley she’d caught to take her further into town, she enjoyed watching diamonds of sunshine sparkling on the gulf water. When she left Galveston, there was no doubt she’d miss the beaches.

It seemed to take forever to arrive at the end of town where the office was situated. Emily slowly approached the building where Louis had worked for years. She shivered as she stared up at the structure housing
Smith and Sanders, Financial Investors.
Sometimes it was hard to believe he was really dead. If someone made a quick move near her she still flinched, waiting for the blow.

The stairs creaked as she climbed to the second floor. She let herself in with the key and softly closed the door. She wasn’t surprised to see Miss Blake’s desk empty. Poor woman probably lost her job as soon as Louis was killed.

After removing her coat and rolling up the sleeves of her shirtwaist, she pulled open the top filing cabinet drawer in Louis’s office. Empty.

Damn.

“Please state your name for the record.” The district attorney had advised the court this was his last witness. Tomorrow Jesse needed to be ready to present his defense, and right now things didn’t look good from Hunter’s standpoint.

“Captain Robert McNeil.”

“And you are a Captain in what law enforcement branch?”

McNeil leaned forward. “The Texas Rangers.”

Hunter twisted in his seat, once more checking behind him for Emily. Small kernels of fear clenched his gut. Ordinarily Emily walked with them to the courthouse each day, but this morning she told them to go ahead without her, that she would join them soon. The Ranger on the stand was the third witness of the day. The driver, Martin, and the dressmaker, Millie, had given their testimony earlier. Emily still had not appeared.

“Captain, please tell the court what type of gun is used by the Texas Rangers.”

“A Walker Colt forty-four caliber.”

“And was Mr. Henderson issued a Walker Colt forty-four caliber?”

“He was. When Henderson first joined the Rangers the men supplied their own weapons, but then several years back we began to issue the guns.”

“And did you have occasion to work with Mr. Henderson when he was a Ranger?”

Hunter once more checked behind him. He glanced at the clock on the wall alongside the jury. Eleven fifteen. Where the devil was she? He leaned over toward Jesse. “Emily’s still not here.”

Jesse nodded. “I’m getting worried myself.”

“Yes, I worked with Mr. Henderson a number of times,” the captain said.

“Would you say Mr. Henderson was skilled in the use of the Walker Colt?”

“All our Rangers are.”

The district attorney rubbed his chin. “I see. Would you say Mr. Henderson was comfortable with his gun?”

Hunter crossed his arms over his chest and examined the twelve men in the jury box. A few looked interested, but most looked bored. They’d sat in the same spot for two weeks now, hearing the district attorney drone on as he built his case.

Despite Jesse’s well-honed ability to stop the district attorney when he’d stepped over the line, and his sharp questioning of the prosecution’s witnesses, Hunter didn’t feel secure in where the trial stood. Unless they could uncover a viable suspect—besides himself—it didn’t look good.

The captain sighed, giving the district attorney a look that clearly spoke of his annoyance at the stupid question about gun comfort. “Yes. Henderson was very skilled—and comfortable—with his gun. He was one of our best shots.”

“And Mr. Henderson is no longer with the Texas Rangers, is that correct?”

“That’s right. He was—”

“Thank you, Captain.” The district attorney glanced at the jury before walking to his table. “Your witness, Mr. Cochran.”

Jesse stood and sauntered toward the witness, his thumbs in his vest pockets. “Captain McNeil, would you say that during his career, Mr. Henderson had been a good Texas Ranger?”

“The best.” He glanced in Hunter’s direction and grinned.

“And would you consider him an honorable man?”

“Absolutely.”

“I’m sure you found having such a fine, honorable man like the defendant as part of the Texas Rangers reassuring in your quest to rid society of criminals. In the course of his duties as a Ranger, the defendant would have had reasons to shoot—and probably kill—criminals. Had he ever given you reason to believe he would murder someone in cold blood?”

“No.”

“Objection!”

They both spoke at once.

“Mr. Cochran is asking the witness to state an opinion,” the district attorney said.

“Sustained. You know better, Mr. Cochran.” The judge faced the jury. “Ignore the last question and answer.”

Jesse turned from the judge and winked at Hunter. “Tell me, Captain. Why is Mr. Henderson no longer a part of the Texas Rangers?”

“He was injured in the course of duty. He was busted up pretty bad.”

“Can you tell the court what happened?”

“Objection, Your Honor. Relevance.” The district attorney glowered at Jesse.

Jesse sighed as if having to explain himself to an annoying child. “Your Honor, I am trying to have the State’s
own witness
provide some background on the defendant’s career as a law enforcement officer which is relevant to my client’s character.”

“Overruled, Mr. Spencer. As counsellor has pointed out, Captain McNeil is your witness.”

The district attorney huffed and sat down.

“Thank you, Your Honor.” Jesse moved to the jury box, leaning against the railing. “How was the defendant injured?”

“We had been tracking a man who had raped and killed several women. Mr. Henderson cornered the man who was holed up in a house with a female hostage. At his own peril he rushed the building, shooting and killing the man before he was able to harm the victim. In the shootout Henderson took several bullets to the leg, shattering the bone and making it impossible to return to duty. A loss to the Rangers.”

Jesse waited a few moments, allowing the story to resonate with the jury. “And when he left the Rangers, did he turn in the weapon he’d been issued?”

“Yes, he did.”

“Thank you, Captain. No further questions.”

Once the Ranger had stepped down, the district attorney stood. “Your Honor, the State rests its case.”

Judge Stenger checked his timepiece and smacked the gavel. “The court will take a lunch recess and resume at two o’clock.”

“I’m going after Emily.” Hunter hopped up from his seat.

Jesse gathered up his papers and nodded. “Go on ahead. I’ll catch up with you.”

As Hunter flew down the courthouse steps, he spotted Captain McNeil ahead of him. “Captain!”

The man turned and smiled as Hunter strode toward him, extending his arm.

Taking deep breaths as he came to an abrupt halt in front of the man, Hunter shook his hand and said, “I wonder if you could do me a favor?”

“Sure. Anything you need.” He gestured toward the courthouse. “That whole thing is nuts. You could never murder anyone.”

Hunter squeezed the man’s shoulder. “Thanks for your support. But I need something else from you.”

He began walking and the captain fell in beside him. “What’s that?”

“A very close friend of mine was supposed to be at the courthouse today, but she never showed up. I have reason to believe she’s in trouble.”

McNeil’s eyebrows rose. “She? This wouldn’t happen to be the woman at the center of this entire mess, would it?”

“Yes. The very one. Her husband was the murder victim. I’m seriously concerned that she’s gotten herself into trouble. Right now I feel as though I could use another body with me while I track her down.”

They picked up their pace and jogged to the trolley car that was just coming to a stop across the street. “I think you’d better fill me in, Henderson.”

They climbed aboard and took side-by-side seats. “One question,” Hunter said.

The ranger nodded.

“Do you have your gun on you?”

The captain opened his jacket to reveal a holster strapped under his arm. “Of course.”

It took the rest of the ride for Hunter to fill in the details of what he’d been doing since leaving the Rangers.

“Sounds to me like you’ve jumped in with both feet with this gal.”

Hunter gave him a wry smile. “You might say that. Once this is all cleared up, I intend to ask her to marry me.”

The Ranger whistled. “Never thought I’d hear you say that, Henderson.”

“Finding my father’s killer has been a driving force in my life for years. Now that Smith is dead and I can’t beat him to a pulp myself, I can start thinking about a future. I want that future to be with Emily.”

“If anyone deserves a good life with a decent woman, it’s you. I wish you the best of luck.”

“Thanks. But before we start raising our glasses in a toast, I have to find said decent woman. I feel in my gut that she’s in trouble.”